I have generally seen her (Lady Ranu Mookerjee) become active by relying on the Academy since 1950. Lady Ranu was then a member of the Sahitya Chakra 'Rabibasar’, At that time, she also held the position of the president of the Academy of Fine Arts.
Consequently, the sixteenth assembly of ‘Rabibasar’ that year was conducted at the Indian Museum. The annual exhibition of the Academy was going on at that time. Upon the gracious invitation of Lady Ranu, the assembly of ‘Rabibasar’ took place in the Academy’s exhibition hall. Ardhendra Kumar Gangopadhyay presided over the meeting.
In that assembly of ‘Rabibasar’ which she mentioned about the Academy, the indications of the Academy’s gallery or its architectural development can be found there. Her speech was published in the Anandabazar Patrika (18th January 1950). Therefore, a part of her speech is quoted here:
At the beginning of the meeting, Lady Ranu Mookerjee, the chairperson of the All India Fine Arts Exhibition and the only female member of ‘Rabibasar’ extended a warm welcome to everyone and showed the members the paintings showcased in the exhibition. In this regard, she stated that on August 15, 1933, through the dedicated efforts and care of the late Maharaja Sir Prodyot Kumar Tagore, this Academy was established to inspire Indian artists in the realm of fine arts. She also expressed her hope that, very soon, a national art gallery would be established in Calcutta through the efforts of this association.
Lady Ranu’s vision of the ‘National Art Gallery’ materialized a few years later. She herself wrote about the incident. In the 1950s, the world-renowned violinist Yehudi Menuhin came to Calcutta and held a performance. The event was organized at the New Empire. That time, Menuhin came to India at the invitation of Jawaharlal Nehru. At Menuhin’s performance at the New Empire, Jawaharlal Nehru was also in attendance. He was accompanied by the then Chief Minister, Bidhan Chandra Ray.
During the intermission of the event, Nehru expressed to Bidhan Chandra, with a hint of regret, that Calcutta lacked an art gallery where they could display India’s paintings and sculptures to foreign dignitaries. On that day, pointing to Lady Ranu, he told Bidhan Chandra that she could carry the mantle of bringing an art gallery to life in the heart of Calcutta. During the conversation, Nehru emphasized that the art gallery should be situated in the center of the city.
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Last Page of "Ardhashatavarshe Academy of Fine Arts"
It is unnecessary to mention that Lady Ranu was then the president of the Academy, and the Academy did not have its own building at that time. Thus, through that connection, she got the opportunity to build the Academy’s building.
The day following the grand occasion, Dr. Ray extended a summon to Lady Ranu, requesting her presence at the esteemed Writers’ Building. On that day, Dr. Ray asked her to plan a museum and auditorium dedicated to contemporary fine arts and other art-related materials.
Afterward, he assigned her the responsibility of selecting a suitable location for the gallery by touring the Maidan area along with the Home Secretary and the Police Commissioner.
Lady Ranu liked the calm atmosphere of Cathedral Road. Because at that time, apart from St. Paul’s, there were no other large buildings on that road. For that reason, she preferred that secluded plot adjacent to the pond near St. Paul’s. Afterward, the Academy building was established on the very place she had selected. The funds required to build the structure were mainly obtained as a donation from Sir Biren Mookerjee, the Chairman of the Academy’s Board of Trustee.
Once the Academy’s own building was constructed, an exhibition of Nandalal Bose’s paintings was organized in that place. That exhibition of Nandalal’s paintings was the first event at the Academy’s new building. Although the Academy’s new building wasn’t formally inaugurated, it was through the exhibition of Nandalal Bose’s paintings that the house heralded at its opening.
On the evening of September 11,1960, the exhibition featuring 50 selected paintings by Nandalal Bose was inaugurated by Dr.Dhirendra Mohan Sen, the then Director of Education, Government of West Bengal. A few days later, the exhibition by the artist, created while he was on his sickbed, was visited by the Vice President, Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan.
With the display of Nandalal’s artwork, the exhibition that started at the Academy’s new building still continues today.
During the 1960s, the Academy’s gallery became a canvas for many cultural events, among which one of the most distinguished exhibitions was the captivating display of paintings by Sir Tashi Namgyal, the Maharaja of Sikkim. The exhibition showcasing forty exquisite paintings by the Maharaja of Sikkim, a true artist by passion, was inaugurated by the esteemed Governor of West Bengal Padmaja Naidu (February 1961).
Subsequently, that same year, the Academy hosted an exhibition featuring the paintings of the Poet Laureate (Rabindranath Tagore). This was because the entire nation was celebrating the centenary of Rabindranath's birth. The exhibition at the Academy was curated as a heartfelt homage to commemorate the poet's birth centenary.
The exhibition of fifty-one paintings by the Poet Laureate was inaugurated on May 18, 1961, by the poet's daughter, Mira Devi. Regarding the inauguration, she said about her father, “He himself has prepared the seat of beauty with his own hands. I offer my respect to the artist-poet, the true worshipper of beauty.”
In the new premises of the Academy, along with organizing short-term exhibitions, several permanent galleries have also been established. One of those galleries in the Academy is the ‘Rabindra Gallery’. This place houses collections of paintings by the Poet Laureate and specimens of his manuscripts.
Moreover, various captivating exhibits are showcased in the ‘Gallery of Miniature Paintings', ‘Contemporary Art Gallery’(1966) and the ‘Gallery of Old Engravings and Sketches’ (1970).
Lady Mookerjee has contributed a range of her personally collected artworks to these galleries. From England, she curated and bestowed upon the Academy an exquisite collection of art pieces reflecting the essence of Calcutta. In the miniature gallery, a remarkable ensemble of seventeen ancient paintings bestowed by her father, Phani Bhusan Adhikary, also finds its cherished place. Additionally, the Academy boasts an astonishing collection of antique sarees and carpets.
Ranu Mookerjee is intricately connected with the advancement of the new chapter of the Academy, which has been initiated at its own residence on Cathedral Road. From the 1950s onwards, the stewardship of the Academy has been a shared journey, with Satish Chandra Sinha, Ramendra Nath Chakravorty and Jagdish Chandra Sinha standing out as key creative force, united with her in shaping its path. Later on, Ramendra Nath Chakravorty and Jagdish Chandra Sinha jointly carried the responsibility of honorary editors along with K.D.Ghosh.
Rathin Maitra and Sunil Pal have been associated with the Academy since that time. The names of Rathin Maitra and Sunil Pal were listed alongside Debangshu Roy Chowdhury, Shailaj Mookerjee and others on the Academy’s executive committee (1950). Rathin Maitra also served as the joint secretary of the Academy alongside Ramendra Nath Chakravorty. Subsequently, artists like Chintamoni Kar, Gopal Ghosh, and Indra Dugar gracefully stepped into the Academy’s vibrant tapestry. During the Golden Jubilee (1958), Rathin Maitra served as one of the prominent joint secretaries of the Academy. At that time, his associate was Gopal Ghosh.
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Cover Page of Academy of Fine Art's Golden Jubilee Commemoration
In the vibrant art movement of contemporary Calcutta, the Academy’s influence was shaped by those who quietly wove its creative legacy from behind the scenes. Through the relentless dedication of countless artists and art patrons, much like them, the Academy of Fine Arts has blossomed into a beacon of artistic excellence, standing at the forefront of the city’s cultural landscape. The Academy’s fifty-year odyssey was shaped by their unwavering support, a silent force that has guided its ascent. Whether it was Prodyot Kumar Tagore or Lady Ranu Mookerjee, whenever they took the helm of the Academy, these individuals stood by their side, transforming the institution into a vibrant universal arts organization.
References
DESH, 4 June 1983, pages 19-29
The Academy of Fine Arts Golden Jubilee: A Commemoration, 1933-1983
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Lot#2 || Rathin Maitra (1913 - 1998) UNTITLED (March On I)
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